In the age of the social network, there's certainly such a thing as sharing too much. But when it comes to losing weight, sharing could be key.在网络社交时代，肯定有些东西经常被分享。但是，当提到减肥的时候，分享可能是关键。

A new Northwestern University study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface¹ found that those who actively² engage in such online communities lost a higher percentage of their body weight compared to users who participated sparingly.

英国皇家协会界面杂志上发表了一篇西北大学的新研究，研究发现，与较少参加网络社区的人相比，活跃在网络社区的人减重比例更大。

Scientists analyzed³ data from people paying a membership fee on CalorieKing.com, which grants them access to weight-loss tools (like a food journal) and an online forum⁴. While the identity of each user remained anonymous⁵, the researchers had access to age, gender⁶, height, initial weight and time-stamped activities. They could also monitor members' recorded weigh-ins, friend requests and community engagement, though they could not read any of the actual conversations between users.

科学家分析了来自CalorieKing.com网站上支付会员费的人们的数据，会员费赋予他们访问减肥工具（例如食品杂志）和网络论坛的权利。虽然每个用户的身份都保持匿名，但是研究人员可以获得年龄、性别、身高、最初体重和可实时追踪的活动。虽然他们不能够读取用户间的实际谈话内容，但是他们能够监测会员的体重记录，好友请求和社区参与。

The researchers found that the users who recorded their weight and engaged with other members were more likely to achieve their goals of shedding pounds. The most active users lost more than 8 percent of their body weight in a six month period. The least active users, those with the fewest online friends and social interactions, lost around 5 percent of their body weight in the same span of time. The researchers theorize that engagement plays a key role in weight loss because it offers an always-accessible network of support.

研究人员发现，那些记录体重、与其它成员互动的用户完成减轻体重目标的可能性更大。最活跃的用户在6个月内减轻的重量大于自身重量的8%。最不活跃的、只有很少网络朋友和社交互动的用户在同样的时间内减轻的重量大约只有自身重量的5%。研究人员推论，参与在减肥中起着关键性的作用，因为它提供了一个永远开放的网络支持．

They're also looking ahead: The positive results point to plausible⁷ uses for social networks in other areas of health. Online communities might be successful alternatives for ailments⁸ like depression and alcoholism, for which in-person meetings are often suggested. "Modern life is so complex and stressful, to go somewhere for a meeting is often not practical," Luís A. Nunes Amaral, senior author of the study, said in a statement. "It is hopeful that this alternative approach, of going online for support, could work."

他们同样也预测未来：积极的结果表明在健康的其它领域也可以合理使用社交网络。网络社区可能是一些疾病的成功的替代方案，例如抑郁症和酗酒，对于这些人通常建议私下见面。这个研究的第一作者路易斯·A·努内斯· 阿尔拉玛在一份声明中说，“现代生活如此复杂、充满压力，去别的地方见面通常不太实际。这个替代方案是有希望的，在网络上寻求帮助可能会有用。”